Case Number 22685

ROBOTECH: THE COMPLETE SERIES

The Charge

A sweeping science-fiction anime epic of humans defending their home world
against alien domination.

Opening Statement

Yes, it's another Robotech DVD release. Yes, Robotech: The Complete
Series purports to be the definitive release for fans. Actually, it really
is a outstandingly comprehensive and well-produced DVD, so even if you have the
previous DVD issues, this is still a must for diehard fans, even if it is a
mouthful for newcomers to the series.

Facts of the Case

In 1999, an alien spacecraft crashes to Earth, revealing a new type of
technology dubbed "Robotech" that humans use to form a multinational
alliance. Ten years later, just as Earth is about to unveil the new series of
advanced weaponry created with Robotech technology, Earth is attacked by aliens.
Three wars, one for each season of the show, follow. In the first season,
"The Macross Saga," the aliens who fought the creators of Robotech
attack Earth to prevent the spread of Robotech technology. In the second season,
"The Masters Saga," the original creators of Robotech attack humanity
to recapture their technology. In the third season, "The New
Generation," the remaining survivors of the Robotech wars launch an attack
on the heart of the alien invaders.

The Evidence

There are so many nuances and details in such a massive production
(eighty-five episodes spread out over thirteen discs) that it's impossible to
truly assess all of them without writing a hundred-paragraph review. Besides, in
many ways, it's not so much the actual details of Robotech that are
significant, it's how the series was produced and the effect it had on its fans
that's a truly fascinating story.

What was significant about Robotech was that it was arguably the
first anime series that was marketed to kids without being watered down. There
had been other series, such as Speed Racer, that had previously aired in
the United States, but they were unquestionably kids' shows. Robotech, by
contrast, aired weekday afternoons just as kids were getting home from school,
and had enough action and sci-fi scenes to enthrall them, but also contained
some remarkably complex elements that were not left out to pacify them. In
Robotech, beloved characters can die, act badly, make mistakes, and have
full-fledged arcs. This was virtually unheard-of for animated action series
pitched towards children; you never saw the characters on Spider-Man and His
Amazing Friends grow or change in any way. It was a way that Robotech
was such an important show for the generation of kids who watched it.

What's even more interesting is how the show was produced. American
writer/producer Carl Macek stitched together three unrelated Japanese cartoon
series, redubbed them, added some minor animation links, and rewrote their
scripts to create Robotech. This has always been a controversial move
that anime fans have debated about for years: Should Macek simply have
translated the shows straight or did he turn them into something more
compelling? Whether or not the original shows (each of which is available
separately) would have been as successful without Macek's modifications is
debatable, but it's hard to argue with how much of an impact Robotech
had. For a generation, it was the first glimpse of anime and many future
American anime professionals frequently cite it as an influence.

Macek's modifications are not nearly as intrusive as you might expect. Sure,
the voice acting is sometimes rather one-dimensional (heroic declamations and
villainous sneering), but that's a characteristic of animated voice acting,
especially in that era. What's more significant is that the storylines that
Macek and his writers imposed on the material is genuinely complex. It
encompasses issues that are hard to sum up concisely in regular animated shows.
When the war comes to Earth, humans, in fear and prejudice, end up turning on
each other. When peace is mentioned, there are warriors on both sides who would
rather fight than sue for peace. These complex stories are deftly integrated by
making each series take place in a different generation. That way, the fact that
characters disappear and are replaced is easily explained, and also allows for
more variety. It makes Robotech a more accessible and fascinating space
opera than a lot of anime can be at times. (Viewers should note, however, that
there is some adult content in some of these episodes, such as shots of brief
nudity. Preview first if you feel you need to.)

This DVD set is probably the definitive release technically. The full-screen
transfer looks about as good as it can look, considering its age. There is some
grain and these are not the razor-sharp images of modern anime, but how could
they be? Where this collection shines technically are the 5.1 surround mixes,
which are spectacular. They easily rival those of any sci-fi blockbuster.
They're loud, dense, and well-balanced. Guaranteed, if you put these on at full
blast, you'll get the most out of your sound system.

Even more extraordinary are the extras. There are no less than four
discs worth of extras, totaling some nearly eleven hours. There are featurettes
covering virtually every aspect of the series. There are select episode
commentaries by Macek. There are hours of deleted and alternate scenes. There
are promos, music videos, art galleries, and toy and merchandise galleries.
There's an edited version of Robotech: The Movie (edited "for
licensing reasons," whatever that means) and select episodes of the
original Japanese shows that the series is taken from. It can safely be said
that anything you've ever wanted or needed regarding Robotech is on this
collection. The whole set serves as a tribute to Macek, who passed away in 2010,
although he does appear on many of the extras.

The Rebuttal Witnesses

Seventeen discs -- for a list price of $99.95? You'd better be a huge
Robotech fan to even consider buying this set. If you're only curious,
this will be a sizable mouthful, especially if you have a low tolerance for
anime. You'd do better to start with a few episodes first in that case.

Closing Statement

Robotech fans are understandably wary of yet another DVD release for
the series; they've been burned by having to buy endlessly repackaged issues
before. This, however, promises to be the last possible word on Robotech.
Love it or hate it, you've got to have it. Watch a few episodes first if you're
not a fan, but since Robotech is easily one of the most accessible and
intriguing anime shows (especially for non-anime fans), you should have no
trouble deciding, soon enough, whether you might just want to splurge on this
set after all.